A day without Monta

Observations from Oracle Arena, where the Golden State Warriors play their first home game without star shooting guard Monta Ellis and power forward Ekpe Udoh …

First Quarter

12:00 – Oracle is close to full, so Monta’s departure isn’t hurting the Warriors just yet. The Celtics do draw plenty of fans though, as well as a full-bodied chorus of boos when they ran onto the court. It also looks like Monta has been edited out of Golden State’s pregame highlight reel. Understandably, this limited the length of the highlight reel.

In an email to the Bay Area News Group’s Tim Kawakami, owner Joe Lacob said, “We have had a plan here right from the beginning. We want a tough, defensive-oriented, ball movement kind of team — and coaching staff.” This is as close to an unspoken indictment of Monta’s playing style as it gets.

Once (if?) Andrew Bogut is healthy next season, it will be nice to see the Warriors start a legitimate frontcourt for the first time in years.

6:32 – Klay Thompson flushes a two-handed dunk, really looking like he can fill the void at two-guard. Celtics don’t exactly have a world-stopper at the position, but the rookie is having no trouble getting to the basket. He was a dead-on shooter at Washington State, as Pac-10/12 observers know. For Cal fans, this is exactly the player Allen Crabbe needs to mold himself after.

4:03 – Nate snatches the ball in transition and goes coast to coast for a layup, avoiding a swat attempt by Greg Stiemsma. The Warriors aren’t showing signs of missing Monta, who frankly is always going to be a good player on a bad team. Small sample size, but his absence is freeing up looks for the backcourt and small forward Dorell Wright. Wright, who has struggled this season, leads the game with seven points. Robinson and Thompson both have six apiece.

Warriors up 23-14 after buckets by Wright and Lee, who dunked while absorbing contact from Stiemsma.

Second Quarter

7:41 – Jeremy Tyler just missed a wide open 18-footer. He was, of course, wide open for a reason. With Bogut still sidelined and Stephen Jackson not yet available, this is a really thin lineup. As indicated by the fact that Jeremy Tyler is playing in the first half.

6:37 – Klay Thompson drills a three and the stadium gives him a short standing O. Back and forth affair right now as Celtics are up 40-39, but boy, Thompson is fun to watch. He has 13. Wright matches that with a three of his own on the next possession. Maybe Golden State still has a chance at the eighth playoff spot …

Third Quarter

6:00 – The Klay Thompson Watch continues. After scoring 17 in the first half, Thompson has poured in six more in the third quarter. He does also have four fouls, including a bump of Paul Pierce that drew boos from the crowd. He sits the last four minutes of the quarter.

5:25 – Nate Robinson snatches a loose ball near the sideline and streaks downcourt for a layup. He has 14 points. All four starters have hit double digits. The lone holdout is Andris Biedrins, who has taken and missed one field goal and two free throws. Golden State up 74-70.

Fourth Quarter

8:46 – Dominic McGuire swats the ball out of Garnett’s hands as the home crowd chants “DEFENSE.” Celtics up 89-85.

7:35 – Klay Thompson closes the gap slightly with another three, one that’s greeted by some of the loudest cheers today. Game-high 26 points, Warriors down 91-88.

4:40 – Entire Oracle is on its feet as Thompson and Robinson swarm Ray Allen on a fast break and force a turnover. Thompson kept his body between Allen and the basket, and Nate streaked back to tap the ball away. A far cry from the defensive apathy that Monta Ellis usually played with. Warriors down 95-94.

Warrior Girls come out and dance to a snippet of Michael Jackson, one that loops the line, “And just enjoy yourself” from “Off the Wall.” Fitting words right now for these fans, some of whom were lamenting the loss of their perennial All-Star snub (although “snub” implies that Ellis deserved to be an All-Star).

1:01 – The Celts went on an 8-2 run since being tied at 95. Warriors keep getting stops and keep coming back. David Lee hit two free throws and Nate Robinson ran circles through the Boston D. 103-101 Celts with 1:01 to go. Somehow, people are leaving right now.

0:36.7 – Pierce’s jumper is off mark and McGuire secures the rebound. Oracle Arena decides to start playing Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” for the “you only get one shot” line.

0:28.5 – Nate Robinson hits the tying layup! This place is a PARTY right now. Loudest I’ve heard Oracle this year, by far. No one is sitting.

0:5.1 – KG with an absolutely killer jumper. He was open on the perimeter and Pierce kicked it out to him. All net.

Nate clanks a three four seconds later and that’s it. A bummer of an ending for Golden State. Thompson finishes with 26, still a game high, but he only scored one field goal in the final quarter.